Conveyer



April 26, 1932. J. .1. NEUMAN 1,855,767

CONVEYER Filed Dec. 51, 1929 INVENTOR q L 4m ATTORN Y Patented Apr. 2 6,1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE v Application filed December 81, 1829.Serial No. 417,611.

This invention relates to conveyers, and more particularly to meansassociated with the conveyer for maintaining a properly spaced relationbetween articles being con- 5 veyed or transported thereby as thearticles approach a counting or recording device whereby an accuraterecord of the number of articles transported by the conveyer during anypredetermined period of time may be bodiment of the invention, I providemovable retarding members at opposite sides of the conveyer, andelectrical means automatically controlled by two adjacent bags orcontainers on the moving conveyer for actuating said members and causingthe same to exert a retarding or holding pressure against the rear bagor container to hold the same relatively stationary while the advancebag or container is in engagement with the actuating means of thecounter or recorder.

It is a further general object of my invention to provide a recording orcounting means for bags, cartons, or other articles which may be readilymounted and arranged in operative relation with various types of articleconveyers, and which is of such construction that the several parts ofthe mechanism will be efiicient and reliable in operation whereby anaccurate record may be obtained.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in theimproved conveyer and the several parts associated therewith as will behereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, and subsequently incorporated in the subjoined claims.

In the drawings, wherein I have shown one simple and practicalembodiment of the in- 60 vention, and in which similar referencecharacters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,-

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a section of a conveyer equipped with myresent improvements and showing a single ag thereon engaged with thecounter actuating means;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing two bags or containers upon theconveyer and illustrating the relative positions of the parts after theseparate circuit closing switches have been actuated by the respectivearticles or containers and with the movable retarding members pressedinto holding engagement against opposite sides of the rear container;

Fig. 3 1s a transverse sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1,and

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view showing the circuit of the operatingsolenoids for the retarding members.

Referring in detail to the drawings, for

purposes of illustration, I have shown a portion of the upper stretch ofthe conveyer belt 5 supported upon suitably spaced rollers 6 j ournalledat their opposite ends in the frame bars 7 At a suitable point in thelength of the conveyer an odometer or other form of recorder generallyindicated at 8 is mounted upon one of the framebars 7 and is providedwith an inwardly projecting operating rod 9 suitably connected to thefree end of a plate 10 pivotally mounted at its other end as at 11 uponthe inner side of the frame bar.

In longitudinally spaced relation from the plate 10, a similar plate 12is also pivotally mounted at one of its ends as at 13 on the frame bar7. These plates are normally yieldingly held in an obliquely inclinedposition extending across the conveyer belt 5 as shown at the left ofFig. 1 of the drawings. Any suitable means may be provided foryieldingly holding the plates in this normal position, and in thepresent instance, I have shown a contractile coil spring 14 suitablyattached at one of its ends to the free end of a curved arm 15 which issecured at its other end to the plate 10 or 12.

There is also associated with each of the plates 10 and 12 a suitableform of switch indicated at 16, the movable element of each switch beingconnected to one of the arms 15 by a second contractile spring 17.

Between the plates 10 and 12, an article retarding member 18 is movablymounted upon each of the frame bars 7 As herein shown, these members arein the form of metal plates pivoted at one of their ends as at 19 uponthe frame bars and yieldingly held by suitable springs shown at 20 in aslightly inclined position extending longitudinally over the conveyorbelt, and in bearing contact against the inner ends of the cores 22 ofsolenoids v21.

Upon reference to Fig. 4 of the drawings, it will be seen that thewindings of the solenoids 21 are connected by suitable conductorsindicated at 23 in an electrical circuit supplied with current from thenegative and positive feed wires 24 and 25 respectively. In thiscircuit, the normally open switches 16 are interposed.

From the above description, it will be understood that the retardingmembers or plates 18 being normally disposed in the position shown inFig. 1 of the drawings, permit of the free passage therebetween of thebag, carton, or other article on the moving conveyer. The article uponstriking the free end of the plate 10, presses the same outwardlythereby actuating the rod 9 to operate the counter or odometer 8. Ofcourse, at the same time, the switch 16 associated with this plate 10,will be closed, but the circuit of the solenoids 21 will remain open, asthe switch 16 in said circuit is still in its open position. Assuminghowever, that there are two bags or containers positioned on theconveyer belt in close relation to each other, it will be apparent thatif the forward end of the rear bag or container strikes the plate 12before the forward or advance bag has moved out of contact with theplate 10, the second or rear switch 16 will also be closed. Thereuponthe energizing circuit for solenoids 21 is completed, and the cores 22of these solenoids are simultaneously moved inwardly, thus pressing orforcing the plates 18 inwardly against the action of the springs 20 andinto engagement against opposite sides of the bag or container. Thefrictional pressure of these members 18 against the container issuflicient to hold said container stationary as long as the solenoidcircuit remains closed while the travel of the conveyer beltcontinues,and the forward or advance container is moved beyond the plate10. Therefore, after this advanced bag has been counted or registeredupon the odometer 8, the spring 14 will contract, returning plate 10 toits normal position and opening the switch 16-associated therewith. Thecircuit for solenoids 21 is thus broken, and the springs 20 therebypermitted to act and return plates 18 to their normal positions so thatthe bag or container which was held the plant can thereby is released.This bag is then moved by the conveyer and in turnwill actuate thecounter or odometer 8. In this manner, it will be seen that a properspacing will be maintained between successive bags transported by theconveyer so that each individual bag will be counted or registered, andit will not be possible for two of the bags or containers to engage theoperating plate 10 for the counter at the same time. Accordingly, a veryaccurate record of the output of be obtained.

I have found the device as above described particularly desirable foruse in connection with conveyers for containers of cloth or fabric oflarge size in which sugar and similar commodities are packed. However,it is also possible that my invention may be found advantageous for usein connection with containers or articles of various other forms andsizes whereby the desired accurate record or count of the factory outputover a predetermined period of time may be automatically obtained. Alsothe invention may be employed for other purposes than to insure anaccurate automatic count or record of the articles transported by theconveyer. Thus, for instance, my present improvements might be utilizedin connection with assembly line conveyers, where it is desirable tomomentarily hold the individual articles stationary while certain partsare being connected therewith or operations performed, and withoutinterrupting the travel of the conveyer.

It will also be understood that the particular forms of switches, andthe specific construction and arrangement of the article engaging meanswhereby these switches are operated, as herein described, is merelysuggestive, and various other alternative forms of switches. andactuating means therefor may be provided. Likewise the other features ofmy present invention are susceptible of more or less modification in theform, proportion and relative arrangement of the several parts, and theprivilege is therefore, reserved of resorting to all such legitimatechanges therein as may be fairly incorporated in the spirit and scope ofthe invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. In combination with a movable article conveyer, retarding devicesarranged at opposite sides of the conveyor and normally permitting ofthe uninterrupted movement of the articles on the conveyer, and meansfor engaging said devices withthe opposite sides of an article on theconveyer to retard the movement thereof without interrupting the travelof the conveyer, said means including devices spaced forwardly andrearwardly from the retarding devices adapted to be engaged and actuatedrespectively by the article to be retarded,

nouns? and an article on the conveyer inadvance thereof.

2. In combination with a-movable article conveyer, retarding devicesarranged at o posite sides of the conveyer and normal y permitting ofthe uninterrupted movement of the articles on the conveyer, and meansveyer in advance thereof, and means for restoring said retarding devicesto normal position to release the article engaged thereby after theother article has been moved by the conveyer out of engagement with thedevice actuated by the latter article.

3. In combination with a onveyer, retarding devices mounted at oppositesides of the conveyer for movement into engagement with an articlethereon to retard the movement of said article, electrically controlledmeans cooperating with each of said devices to move the same intoengagement with said article, a circuit for said electrically controlledmeans, and normally open switches in said circuit spaced apartlongitudinally of the conveyer at one side thereof, and means associatedwith each switch for engagement by the article to be retarded and thearticle in advance thereof respectively, to thereby close said circuitand engage said retarding devices with the rear article on the conveyerwhile permitting of the continued movement of the advance article withsaid conveyer.

4. In combination with a conveyer, retarding devices mounted at oppositesides of the conveyer for movement into engagement with an articlethereon to retard the movement of said article, electrically controlledmeans cooperating with each of said devices to move the same intoengagement with said article, a circuit for said electrically controlledmeans, and normally open switches .in said circuit spaced a artlongitudinally of the conveyer at one side thereof, means associatedwith each switch for engagement by the article to be retarded and thearticle in advance thereof respectively, to thereby close said circuitand engage said retarding devices with the rear article on the conveyerwhile permitting of the continued movement of the advance article withsaid conveyer, and means for restoring said retarding devices to normalposition after the advance article has moved out of contact with theswitch actuating means engaged thereby to open said circuit.

5. In combination with a conveyer and an .5 article counting devicearranged at one side of said conveyor, article retarding devices Ymounted at opposite sides of the conveyor and spaced longitudinally fromthe counter, electrically controlled means for operatin said devices andengaging the same with t e 0pposite sides of an article on the conveyorto retard movement thereof, a movable member mounted at one side of theconveyor in advance of said retarding devices and operatively connectedwith the counter, said member extending over the conveyor for engagementby an article thereon, a circuit for said electrically controlledoperating means for the retardin devices, and a normally open switch insaid circuit operatively connected with said movable member and moved tocircuit closing position upon en agement of said member by an article ont e conveyor whereby said retarding devices are engaged with the nextarticle on the conveyer in the rear of said first named article so as toretard movement of said rear article without interrupting the continuedmovement of the advance article with the conveyer.

6. In combination with a movable conveyer and an article countingdevice, movable article retarding means spaced from said countingdevice, means for operating said retarding means to engage the same withan article on the conveyor, and means for automatically actuating saidoperating means including devices movably mounted at one side of theconveyer and spaced forwardly and rearwardly from the retarding meansand adapted to be respectively engaged and actuated by spaced articleson the conveyer, said forward device engaged by the advance article onthe conveyer being operatively connected with said counting devicewhereby the latter is actuated.

7. In combination with a conveyer, movable article retarding means toengage and retard movement of an article with the conveyer, electricallycontrolled operating means for said article retarding means and acircuit therefor, independent normally open switches in said circuit,and means for closing said switches, including independently operablemembers movably mounted in forwardly and rearwardly spaced relation fromthe article retarding means and rojecting over the conveyer, saidmembers being operatively connected with the respective switches andadapted to be engaged and respectively actuated by separate articles onthe conveyer whereby said circuit isclosed to operate said retardingmeans and engage the same with the rear article on the conveyer whilepermitting of the uninterrupted continued movement of the advancearticle on the conveyer.

8. In combination with a movable conveyer, means for retarding movementof an individual article on the conveyer, and means for actuating saidretarding means including spaced movable members projecting into the Illpath of movement of the articles on the conveyer to be engaged andoperated resgectivel by adjacent articles, and means ren ered e fectiveby the conjoint 0 ration of said members whereby said retar ing means isenga ed with the rear article to hold the same r latively stationar andthereby increase the space between t e adjacent articles withoutinterrupting the movement of the conveyor.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have si5nedmy name hereto.

J AC B J. NEUMAN.

